Tuomas Isalo has never been one to shy away from discussing the nitty-gritty of basketball, but his latest criticism touches on a trend that has increasingly frustrated NBA coaches. However, the Memphis Grizzlies are currently suffering the most, as they are effectively operating without a frontcourt. Their small-ball lineup without Ja Morant has been an easy target for opponents and officials, who have penalized overzealous, over-competing defenders.

Extensive practice on proper technique is one thing. NBA referees require a little more finesse to see things their way. Unfortunately, Isalo can’t point at the jumbotron without getting the Grizzlies in technical foul trouble. People who wear stripes hate to show off, but Memphis is throwing its hands up in anger after a recent 50-50 call.

“One of the things we’ve been good at this year, and we’ve practiced a lot, is showing our hands when there’s contact,” Isalo stressed. “I thought (against the Clippers), every time I look at the video board where they show the replays, there’s a foul on the drive.”

In two recent home losses, the Grizzlies were called for more fouls than the Portland Trail Blazers (23-22) and LA Clippers (29-20). It’s been even worse in road losses against the Minnesota Timberwolves (26-24) and Philadelphia 76ers (31-25). Even the recent win over the Dallas Mavericks (26-13) was a thrilling whistle-fest for Isalo. Being called for double violations despite having a drive-heavy game plan is almost unheard of in today’s NBA.

It’s hard to see, even if fans are rooting for the tank action to succeed. Intentionally engineering contact to cause fouls rather than executing a basketball game is either an art form or just ugly, unethical basketball. It depends on who you ask about a particular play and when. It can’t be denied that finding ways to make contact and get whistled is what smart players do to produce within the existing framework.

That’s why those ‘skills’ have come off the bench at this point.

“Our hands were outside the cylinder, and they were in the cookie jar,” Isalo said. “Players have become so skilled in this league that they can understand that situation and utilize it. And it’s not just the best offensive players. It’s one in 15 guys that are able to read that if your hand is on the body, they’re going to make that contact.”

Isalo stopped short of blaming officials for poor decisions, noting that calls are being made consistently throughout the league. Still, the pattern troubles him from a purist’s point of view. But what can be done?

Grizzlies get NBA attention

The NBA has attempted to address foul-batting before. Ahead of the 2021–22 season, the league announced an interpretive change in the role of “overt, sudden or unusual non-basketball moves by offensive players” with the ball in an attempt to draw a foul. Ahead of the 2023–24 season, he initiated a technical foul for flopping on a one-year trial basis, later made permanent.

That’s why Isalo noted that the issue is not with the consistency of whistleblowers or officials individually, but with the interpretation of the rule.

“It’s called consistently. I’m not a big fan of some of the interpretations because it seems like guys are just reaching for the foul instead of playing basketball. But it’s been extremely consistent in the way it’s been called. We’ve got to do a better job of doing that as a team and as a coaching staff doing that.”

Isalo’s comments reflect broader tensions throughout the NBA, where offensive players have increasingly mastered the art of using body contortions, sudden stops and subtle arm hooks to draw defenders into contact. Critics argue that this strategy slows down the game and rewards manipulation rather than skill, while others argue that it is simply smart, within-the-rules play. After months of feedback, the answer is not to lobby for a rule change mid-season, but to adapt.

This is perhaps the last useful test to find a silver lining in the season. These Grizzlies need to get better at playing inside and exploiting the same system that is currently working against them. Figuring out those subtle incentive structures on both ends of the court is probably the last intelligence Jaylen Wells and Cedric Coward need to really run the wings.

Steve Kerr and the Golden State Warriors did not lead once in a 104–97 loss against All-Star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the Oklahoma City Thunder, after erasing a 14-point deficit. The Thunder regained the lead before putting the Warriors away in the fourth quarter. Kristaps Porzingis played only his second game since his trade from the Atlanta Hawks, but it was Gilgeous-Alexander who drained a dagger-3 down the stretch.

Gilgeous-Alexander led the Thunder with 27 points on 6-for-15 from the floor and 14-of-15 from the free-throw line, which came during Kerr’s postgame media availability. Kerr criticized Gilgeous-Alexander’s approach, which was a subject of debate among many NBA circles; However, warriors are prominent Coach gives credit to reigning MVP.

“Well, he’s incredibly smart, and he knows how to make contact, and it’s all within the rules,” Kerr said. “I don’t have a problem with Shai; I have a problem with the rules. As a league, too much off-arm – we hardly allow defenses to protect the ball.

So, if you allow the offensive player to push off-arm to create space, it becomes really difficult defensively because you can’t get your arm inside. If you put your hand in, everyone in the league will do what Shai does, what James Harden does. They’ll put a hook on your arm and it’s all part of the rules.”

For Warriors’ Steve Kerr, the rule change is important, rather than blaming Shai Gilgeous-Alexander for the foul.

“More power to all the individual players, but as a league, we need to adapt and adjust,” Kerr said. “Players, year after year, take advantage of the rules, and they’re smart; they know what they’re doing.”

“My wife has one of those.”

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander wasn’t a fan of Jalen Williams’ outfit 🙂

(via @sports center)
pic.twitter.com/vvUAweL5x0

– ClutchPoints (@clutchpoints) 8 March 2026

Gui Santos’ double-double (22 points, 11 rebounds) led the Warriors. Brandin Podziemski finished with 17 points, six assists and six rebounds, and Draymond Green added 16 points, five assists and two steals.

Mike Dunleavy on Warriors Kristaps Porzingis

Warriors GM Mike Dunleavy does not consider Kristaps Porzingis a rental, citing the 7-foot center as an important part of his team’s future. According to ESPN’s Anthony Slater and Ramona Shelburne, despite Porzingis’ health setbacks over the past two seasons, Dunleavy addressed the veteran center’s future with the team.

“We see him as more than a rental,” Dunleavy said. “We think he can help our team this year, improve our playoff position, and then moving forward that’s what we’re looking for.”

The Warriors conclude their three-game road trip on Monday against the Jazz.

On Sunday evening, the Los Angeles Lakers returned to the loss column with a crushing home loss to the Boston Celtics. Luka Doncic put 25 points on the board in this one, but he wasn’t particularly efficient in getting there, shooting 9-22 from the field and dishing out just three assists.

Doncic was seen raising his hands and complaining to the referee throughout the evening, as well as apparently flopping in an attempt to get a call, which was widely mocked on social media.

Recently, The Ringer’s Bill Simmons, a noted Celtics fan, reflected on the play.

“The foul nonsense is the worst it’s been in a while,” Simmons said, according to “It’s so bad that even LeBron is like, ‘Wow, this guy really sucks at calls.’ But I don’t think it helps them.”

James has been known to commit a foul or two during his illustrious career, but even his antics have never come close to the acrobatic routines that Doncic displays in an attempt to draw calls on a nightly basis.

This issue has been noted for Doncic dating back to his days with the Dallas Mavericks, as has his tendency to constantly argue with referees, and at some points, it threatens to eclipse the talent he is able to achieve on the basketball court, which he does not need to rely on foul play to generate.

Meanwhile, Lakers fans’ concerns about Austin Reaves’ ability to perform against good defense were proven justified by his performance on Sunday night, as well as the team’s lack of viable perimeter defenders.

Los Angeles is currently 34-22 on the season, and will have to fight to stay in the top six of the West during the season.

The Lakers will next take the field against the Orlando Magic on Tuesday at 10:30 PM ET.